chant
[chant, chahnt]
- a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
- a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
- the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
- any monotonous song.
- a song; singing: the chant of a bird.
- a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
- a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
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- to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
- to sing.
- to celebrate in song.
- to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
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- to sing.
- to utter a chant.
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Origin of chant
1350–1400; (v.) Middle English chanten < Middle French chanter < Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing; (noun) < French chant < Latin cantus; see canto
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chant
Contemporary Examples
The owner of the original video of the “dead cops” chant told me it was taken on 32nd Street between 5th and Madison avenues.
The same night the “dead cops” chant was recorded, two police officers were attacked on the Brooklyn Bridge.
A car parked at a red light honked its horn in rhythm with the chant as the crowd passed in front of it.
Some of the marchers began to chant at the anarchists, reminding them that the movement is bigger than them.
Chant: Ve-al kulam, Eloha selichot, selach lanu, mechal lanu, kaper lanu.
Jews and Non-Jews Need to Repent for the Sins of the U.S. and IsraelRabbi Michael Lerner
September 24, 2014
Historical Examples
Then, if you like, we can chant confidences in an antiphonal chorus.
The Black BagLouis Joseph Vance
And then all the voices, the thousands of voices, began the chant of adoration and gratitude.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
You ought to hear Angie and the rest of 'em chant hymns of glory about him.
Cy Whittaker's PlaceJoseph C. Lincoln
That doleful wailing song of hers was the first chant of madness.
The House Under the SeaSir Max Pemberton
At last he began to chant the death-song, which he had learned from the older braves.
chant
- a simple song or melody
- a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
- a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
- a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc
- monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
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- to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
- to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
- to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French chanter to sing, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for chant
v.
late 14c., from Old French chanter "to sing, celebrate" (12c.), from Latin cantare "to sing," originally frequentative of canere "sing" (which it replaced), from PIE root *kan- "to sing" (cf. Greek eikanos "cock," Old English hana "cock," both literally "bird who sings for sunrise;" Old Irish caniaid "sings," Welsh canu "sing"). The frequentative quality of the word was no longer felt in Latin, and by the time French emerged the word had entirely displaced canere. Related: Chanted; chanting.
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n.
1670s, from chant (v.), or else from French chant (12c.), from Latin cantus "song, a singing; bird-song," from past participle stem of canere.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper